The first step to formulating a search strategy is to identify the keywords or key phrases, also known as terms, from your research topic or research question.
Watch the video OR read the content in the box below to learn how to identify key concepts, develop keywords and key phrases. Then read the next two tabs after that.
Keywords and key phrases, also collectively known as terms, are the words or phrases that represent your research topic's key concepts and are the words you would use in everyday life to describe the topic.
Learn about keywords and key phrases by either watching the video below or reading the next tab's content. Then move onto the last two tabs.
Keywords and key phrases are the words or phrases that represent the key concepts of your research topic and are the words you would use in everyday life to describe the topic. They are also known as terms.
Using a table can be helpful for organizing your thoughts for keywords and key phrases:
| Key Concept "A" | Key Concept "B" | Key Concept "C" | |
|
Keyword or key phrase to describe Concept + Other keywords or key phrases that can be used eg. synonyms, abbreviations spelled out, etc. |
As you think of other keywords and key phrases to be synonyms, you might find yourself thinking of broader and narrower terms than the first group of keywords and key phrases you brainstormed.
Think of your original keywords and key phrases as your anchor terms - your starting place. The synonyms you think of could be:
If you haven't thought of such synonyms, try thinking of a few, as having a few broad, narrow, and parallel terms might come in handy (but if you can't, that's ok! You will gather ideas later as you search).
You might find it helpful to jot down your anchor term and your broad, narrow, and parallel synonyms in a hierarchical list or create a mindmap. Below are examples.
| Broad to narrow terms in a hierarchical list | Mindmap Identifying Narrow and Broad Keywords and Key phrases |
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'Dog' is the anchor term:
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'Facebook' is the anchor term:
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Text version
Broad to narrow keywords in a hierarchical list: animal pet dog (the anchor term) working dog show dog German Shepherd Yorkie |
Text version
Thesis statement: Romantic relationships have become increasingly complicated due to the use of Facebook Facebook: Facebook is one of the keywords we can identify from the thesis statement, so we will use that as an anchor keyword as our starting place to brainstorm synonyms. Parallel terms for Facebook (represented by the arrows going sideways) Instagram; Snapchat Broader terms for Facebook (represented by the arrow going up): Social Media Parallel Terms for Social Media: Online social networks; social sites Narrower terms for Facebook (represented by the arrow going down) Status update Parallel terms for "status update": social profile information; relationship status Status update, social profile information, and relationship status are all examples of narrower terms. Narrow terms tend to be more specific than the original "anchor" keyword or key phrase and focus the search. |
This tab is adapted from EN 104 Blount First Year Writing: Brainstorming Research Guide by Sara Whitver, University of Alabama Libraries
Anna wants to write her research paper on how social media affects self-esteem in adolescents.
Anna underlines the key concepts: How social media affects self-esteem in adolescents
These key concepts make good keywords and key phrases. (Reminder - Key phrases are two or more keywords that belong together.) So she writes them down.
She then records any synonyms or related keywords that she can think of underneath, identifying them as broad, narrow, or parallel terms compared to her anchor keyword or key phrases.
|
Key Concept "A" |
Key Concept "B" |
Key Concept "C" |
|
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Anchor keyword or key phrase to describe concept + Other keywords or key phrases that can be used eg. synonyms, abbreviations spelled out, etc. |
social media Facebook (narrow term) Instagram (narrow) Twitter (narrow) Snapchat (narrow) |
self-esteem self-concept (broad) |
adolescents teenagers (parallel) youth (broad)
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